Three Democrats Join GOP In An Attempt To Scuttle Health Insurance For Needy Children

Earlier today DWT and Crooks & Liars hosted the new head of the DCCC's Red to Blue Program. When asked about reactionary Democrats crossing the aisle to vote with the Republicans on core Democratic values-- like equality in the workplace for women-- he didn't mince words:

It's extremely frustrating to me. It doesn't seem like one of those defining issues that is going to be used against you to paint you as a tool of the Speaker, which is usually what happens in these races in the Deep South. It does seem like this is an issue that is a defining issue for Democratic voters and I would hope that Democrats in those districts in Alabama and around the country would make their feelings known to help educate these new members to the fact that just because you have received support in the past, to pick up an open seat, does not mean that you can ignore what your party stands for when it comes to basic tenets.

He had to rush off from our session to vote on SCHIP. Before that vote, there was a procedural attempt by the Republicans to kill it. It failed 244-178. Three reactionary fake Democrats joined every single Republican in trying to sabotage health care for needy children. The culprits?

Baron Hill (Blue Dog- IN)
Walt Minnick (ID)
Heath Shuler (Blue Dog-NC)

Hill is the co-chair of the reactionary Blue Dogs in charge of policy. Minnick was just elected and has voted with the Republicans on every disputed bill that has come up so far. And Shuler... Rahm Emanuel's one success from 2006, a Republican jackass masquerading as a Democrat who thinks he's going to run for Richard Burr's Senate seat in 2010, something that would insure another six years for Burr.


UPDATE: SCHIP PASSES... AGAIN

The Republicans tried another tactic to kill the bill (a motion to recommit) and it failed 179- 247. Three Republicans, Chris Smith (NJ), Frank LoBiondo (NJ) and Vern Buchanan (FL), voted with the Democrats and 5 reactionary Democrats crossed the aisle in the other direction:

Bobby Bright (AL)
Walt Minnick (ID)
Gene Taylor (MS)
Jim Marshall (GA)
Mike McIntyre (NC)

In the end 40 Republicans voted for final passage, bringing the total to 289 for and only 139 against. Only two fake Democrats voted against it:

Jim Marshall (GA)
Bobby Bright (AL)